Ideas, Information, & Extravagant Kudos for WyldLife Leaders

Contact Work Dos and Dont’s

Like so many things in WyldLife, contact work is full of practices and theories that exist on a spectrum. A good strategy (i.e. remembering what it was like to be in middle school), if taken too far, can lead to dangerous trends (acting like a middle schooler).

Laying out these scenarios as “Do… but don’t…” statements can help leaders gain a sense of confidence and clarity about their ministry responsibilities. Here’s a list of contact work Dos-but-Don’ts that you can use in your own ministry and leader training. A downloadable PDF file is included below.

DO remember what it was like to be in MS; but DON’T act like a middle schooler.

DO push yourself to reach the unreachable furthest-out kid; but DON’T force or push yourself into groups or situations.

DO be kind, engaging, welcoming, & fun; but DON’T make fun of or joke at a kid’s expense.

DO be neat, polite, thoughtful; but DON’T try to impress.

DO find shared interests and connecting points; but DON’T talk primarily about yourself.